Best Of

Best Ways To Celebrate Earth Day In Minnesota

April 20, 2015 / 7:00 AM CDT / CBS Minnesota

Honor the earth this year on Wednesday April 22, 2015. Now, after 45 years of commemorating this solemn occasion, there is a scramble for fresh new approaches to make it real. Here are five ideas for an authentic experience. See even more methods of celebrating this customary yearly happening in a previously published article.

Connect With Nature
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
1225 Estabrook Dr.
St Paul, MN 55103
(651) 487-8201
www.comozooconservatory.org

Stop by Como Park Conservatory for the Spring Flower Show in the Sunken Garden, running through April 26, 2015. This spring is an exciting time at Como Zoo, as they welcomed an adorable baby orangutan name Kemala in January, and a baby gorilla, Arlene, in February. You can also enjoy the Gardener Talk at the Conservatory at 1 p.m. daily, where you can learn about the day-to-day operations and learn about the plants from the experts.

Plant A Tree
McDonough Landscaping, Inc.
1340 Military Road
Newport, MN 55055
(651) 755-7901
www.mcdonoughlandscapingmn.com

Earth Day 2015 organizers have set a goal to plant one billion trees or seeds. Do your part with special attention to your landscaping. There are a lot of great local experts that can help get you started, like locally owned landscaping companies McDonough Landscaping, Inc. and Living Space Landscapes Inc. Start checking off those items on your spring to-do list.

Appreciate The Bicycle
The Goldstein Museum of Design
University of Minnesota
1985 Buford Ave.
St Paul, MN 55108
(612) 624-7434
www.goldstein.design.umn.edu

A hidden gem in the Twin Cities, The Goldstein Museum of Design at the University of Minnesota, presents Design Cycles: A Bike Show, which will encourage you to enjoy the outdoors on bicycle during the beautiful Minnesota springtime. The exhibit runs through May 10 at Gallery 241, McNeal Hall. Regional bike builders like Erik Noren and Curt Goodrich are displaying their frames. Bike gear and tool vendors, like Twin Six and Bike Fixtation, will display the latest biker gear. Enthusiasts will enjoy learning the history of early bicycles, especially the Surly big fat bike.

Visit Outer Space
Science Museum of Minnesota
120 W. Kellogg Blvd.
St Paul, MN 55102
(651) 221-9444
www.smm.org

Celebrate Earth Day with an out-of-this-world experience at the Science Museum of Minnesota in downtown Saint Paul. Learn all about the world around us at the permanent exhibits, and then take a hands-on approach to learning about outer space at Space: An Out-Of-Gravity Experience, running through September 7.

Explore Native American Art
Modern Spirit: The Art of George Morrison
Minnesota Historical Society
345 W. Kellogg Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55102
(651) 259-3000
www.mnhs.org/calendar

Sense spiritual reflection of a Native American embodied in drawings, paintings, prints, and sculpture in the abstract and in realistic Northern Minnesota landscape renderings. The art of George Morrison, an important 20th-century artist from Northern Minnesota evokes strong feelings for the love of nature. Professor of Art History and Curator, W. Jackson Rushing III, "explore(s) the interstitial zone between Native American studies, anthropology, and art history" in the "largest and most important collection of Morrison's artwork in the country." This exhibit closes April 26, 2015.
Related: Local Company Offers Eco-Friendly Options For Your Home

Robin Johnson was born in Annandale, Minn. and graduated from Richfield High School and then the University of Minnesota where he studied Political Science, Business and Industrial Relations. A writer for Examiner.com, he also consults with a variety of organizations and individuals helping them develop and grow. His work can be found at Examiner.com.

University of Minnesota